Dinky, thanks for your post. Your temps are much higher than mine. In texas, I never get above 90, even when in traffic and AC on. Does your car have the two auxiliary fans?

Everyone, I think this thread has digressed, I originally wanted to know if the two auxiliary electric fans could move enough air to cool the car, does anybody know the answer? It has already been established that an aftermarket electric fan can cool the car, but I am not going to spring for one unless I race-prep my block, the gain is just isn't worth the cost. The two auxiliary fans are there already however, and if I could use just those, it would be wonderful.

Ok, an update & correction to my earlier posting...

Went to seek a second opinion from a shop which claims that they specialised in installation/conversion of Mercs for the local tropical climate condition here in Singapore. Mechanic was against the conversion to electric fan(s), claiming that the current draw is high, among other factors. In his opinion, a proper functioning cooling system with 1 visco fan and 1 aux fan should be up to the task of cooling the engine even in extreme start-stop conditions. He took sometime to check through the entire system and found that the aux fan was not switching to high-speed mode, though the low-speed works. Changed the aux fan switch, changed a resistor and re-wired the system (car was a parallel import, hence was not equipped with aircon originally and whoever wired the system earlier obviously didnt do a proper job). Initially, aux fan ONLY comes on when the aircon is turned on, which is not correct.

Results:

Engine coolant temp is kept to just a hairline above 80C, irregardless if the engine is idling for an extended period (under the hot sun), cruising, after several hard runs, etc. So now, I stand corrected about the conversion to electric fans. For those thinking of converting to electric fans, it may be better to check through the system before doing so. One thing about the aux fan, when it switches to high-speed mode, its LOUD!... no mistake about it.. and the airflow is significantly higher.

Badinfo, my car is equipped with only 1 aux fan in front of the radiator. The fan is pretty big, there's certainly no space for another, unless you are talking about 2 small aux fans.

it seems nobody has attempted this and the answer is probably no. i think if you just removed the v-fan your car would overheat easily. you need to make some mods on temperature cut in and probably some thermostat experimentation. read that other thread carefully, all of the pertinent issues are addressed there...

__________________
joE
1993 300e-2.8 - gone now <sigh>
"Do not adjust your mind, it's reality that's malfunctioning"
http://banners.wunderground.com/bann...L/Key_West.gif

I was having some fan clutch problems with my Peugeot diesel and assumed it was a low priority cause it had an electric fan, I was wrong. When I started up a hill the electric fan came on but it couldn't hold the engine temp down. My conclusion was that I did need the main fan and made fixing it a higher priority.

On my wife's 190E-2.6, i didn't know the VCF was defective until my thermostat crapped out and was stuck in the 1/2 way position. The car was heating badly only after you stopped at a light or something, and would never cool down even with the aux. fans going FULL blast. Replaced the thermostat and locked the VCF. At a stop with the a/c on, the temps will go up. But after the aux. fans kick in, it all cools down.
So, you probably could live w/o the VCF if all is working properly. However, once something fails, you may not be in the ideal place or time. Odds are you will burn the engine or crack the head.

Better SAFE than SORRY !!!

__________________
99 C230K Sport
87 300SDL
81 300SD

I agree, a case where the aux fans didn't work was what I was looking for. I think I might end up getting an electric fan down the road (far down there), but my alternator has been spinning for 115k miles, and I think I should look at that before I do anything else...